Lisa, This is really... a sad, sad story but very real. I had a student who I had in several classes. I spoke with this student on the phone but very briefly each time - until the last course before her graduation. Keep in mind that this student had been in school by this point - at least two years. She had to provide responses to her discussion boards each week and they were "flawless"... MLA was correct... research was terrific. Within this last course - I actually interviewed her for this company that she was to be working with as an intern. I was dumb-founded as I was speaking to her as she did not have answers that she should have known from week one of her schooling. She also did not know common terms such as freelancing and what that was. She did not know any of the elements that were basic principles to her degree program. She could not even form a professional sentence while speaking with her - yet - I had all these "amazing" discussion boards. I actually pulled her discussion board assignments and asked questions relating to her posts and she had "no" idea what I was talking about. I brought this to the attention of the administration but we were all at a loss. We could not PROVE that she had purchased these papers and as a result - I had to pass her through. I was never so disheartened as an educator in my life. This "one" instance has made me spend "more" time with each of my students on a regular basis and really speak with them before this situation becomes a pattern within our schools. Dr. Powell